Genealogical research has revealed that the Prince and Princess of Wales are distantly related to Irish popstar Chris de Burgh, best known for his hit 'The Lady in Red'. The connection also links William and Kate to each other as fourteenth cousins once removed.
Chris de Burgh, who grew up in County Wexford, has ties to both royals. Kate's family has long been known to descend from the de Burghs, but new findings show that Prince William also shares ancestry with the singer. De Burgh met William's mother, Princess Diana, on several occasions, including when she named a Virgin Airbus 'Lady in Red'.
Genealogists traced both William and Kate's lineage back to King Edward III and his queen, Philippa of Hainault. Their son, Lionel of Antwerp, married Irish heiress Elizabeth de Burgh, Countess of Ulster. Centuries later, Agnes Gascoigne, a descendant, married Sir Thomas Fairfax. William descends from their son Sir Nicholas Fairfax, while Kate comes from his younger brother William, making them fourteenth cousins.
Chris de Burgh's mother was Maeve Emily de Burgh, daughter of General Sir Eric de Burgh. While not directly descended from Edward III, they share the de Burgh surname through the royal line. The singer commented on the discovery in 2013, saying, 'I was unaware that there is a distant connection... At least that will give us something to talk about should we ever have a cup of tea together.'
